Fireworks Music

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The Music for the Royal Fireworks (HWV 351) was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1749 under contract of George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in London's Green Park on 27 April 1749. It was to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

The performing musicians were in a specially constructed building which had been designed by Servandoni, a theatre designer. The music provided a background for the royal fireworks. However the display was not as successful as the music. The enormous wood building caught fire due to the fall of the bas relief of George II. However, the music had been performed publicly six days earlier, on 21 April 1749 when there was a full rehearsal of the music at Vauxhall Gardens. Over twelve thousand people, each paying 2s 6d, rushed for it, causing a three-hour traffic jam of carriages, after the main route to the area south of the river was closed (after the new London Bridge's central arch collapsed and it had to be closed). The work is in five movements:

  1. Overture: Adagio, Allegro, Lentement, Allegro
  2. Bourrée[1]
  3. La paix[2]: Largo alla siciliana
  4. La réjouissance: Allegro[3]
  5. Menuet I/II

When published, Handel wished to present the work as an overture, but royal moves had it given the title Music for the Royal Fireworks as propaganda in favour of an otherwise unpopular Treaty and monarch.[4]

[edit] Instrumentation

It was originally scored for a large ensemble consisting of 24 oboes, 12 bassoons (including contrabassoon), nine trumpets, nine french horns, three pairs of kettledrums, and an unspecified number of side drums. The version most commonly played today was adapted by Handel for the Foundling Hospital, and consists of a more traditional ensemble of strings and winds. Music for the Royal Fireworks, for orchestra, HWV 351.

The only extant autograph manuscript is the latter adaptation. In addition to the contrabassoon, the manuscript calls for the serpent to double the bass line. However, at some point, the serpent's name was crossed out. It is not known whether the earliest performances included the serpent. Even so, it is used in at least one recording of the Royal Fireworks. [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Referencing the sounds of war and military music.
  2. ^ Referring to the Peace brought by the Treaty
  3. ^ Happy music celebrating the peace
  4. ^ Penny London Post newspaper from 1749 reporting on the display and the music
  5. ^ Martin Pearlman, in the liner notes to "Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Water Music", by the Boston Baroque, for the Telarc label.

[edit] External links